Meat sticks have come a long way since the invention of the Slim Jim in 1929. Sales of the savory snack topped $3 billion in 2024, a jump of 10 percent compared to the previous year. More than 40 million households buy them annually, making meat sticks the fastest-growing category in snacks. These days, meat sticks come in all sorts of styles: short or long, fat or slim, snappy or soft. They’re made with bold flavors like jalapeno, taco, teriyaki, and dill pickle. The meat options range from standards like beef and turkey to other offerings featuring sheep and even ostrich. Some options claim to be sugar-free or made from grass-fed meat.
Besides enjoying their smoky flavor, many Americans have become fond of meat sticks thanks to the recent “snackification” of mealtimes. Ever since the pandemic, consumers have been snacking more throughout the day. According to one recent study, over 20 percent of Americans snack three or more times per day. About 86 percent of consumers in 2023 said they were snacking as much or more as they did the year before. “People are kind of eating nonstop,” says Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jennifer Bartashus. “Meal occasions are kind of blurry.”
Meat sticks have long been a beloved snack option because they’re portable, convenient, and easy to eat. They’re also packed with protein, causing many health-conscious snackers to reach for them over chips, candy, and other high-fat options. Meat sticks are especially popular with people who follow high-protein diet trends on social media. Their jump in popularity is certainly good news for ConagraBrands, the Fortune 500 company that owns the category’s three best-selling brands: Slim Jim, Duke’s, and Fatty. Another popular meat stick made by a startup called Chomps expects to earn more than $1 billion in retail sales next year, making it the fastest-growing food brand in the U.S.
Questions:
- Why are many Americans eating more meat sticks these days?
- Do you think the meat stick market will continue to grow at a fast pace? Why or why not?
Sources: Deena Shanker, “Why Everyone’s Obsessed With Meat Sticks and Cottage Cheese,” Bloomberg, January 3, 2025; Jennifer Williams, “America’s $3 Billion Habit: Meat Sticks,” The Wall Street Journal, January 26, 2025.